6 Amazing Health Benefits of Capsaicin

Using capsaicin can be an excellent choice for those who want to improve their overall health, but knowing the potential side effects is important before adding it to your regimen.

What is Capsaicin?

Capsaicin is the active ingredient in many different chili peppers and is the compound that gives these peppers their spicy bite. It is a type of capsaicinoid and is a very powerful irritant, so using it for relief from pain and inflammation seems counterintuitive. However, there are a number of impressive health benefits to using this extract, so eating peppers and spicy foods are often encouraged for metabolic strength and the immune system.

Note: Due to the irritating nature of this compound, it is sometimes necessary to neutralize it so that your mouth stops burning. Drinking milk is an excellent way to neutralize the effects of this neuropeptide extract, as the animal fats and proteins bind to the same receptors in the mouth.

Capsaicin Health Benefits

Anticancer Potential

While the positive correlation between capsaicin and cancer is yet disputed and needs to be supported with large-scale trials, the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center highlights some anticancer possibilities of this component. According to some studies, capsaicin could be exploited for its antiproliferative and chemopreventive potential against prostate, breast, and bladder cancer. It could also prove beneficial against chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy by relieving pain.

Skin Conditions

When you apply this substance to your skin, it will help to soothe pain and inflammation, although it may cause initial irritation or discomfort. By blocking the pain receptors in the skin, it can reduce chronic discomfort.

Diabetes

Studies have found that it is able to reduce the amount of pain from diabetic neuropathy, which is a very common secondary symptom of long-time diabetics.

Weight Loss

By boosting the metabolism and helping to detoxifythe body, this substance can help your whole system run more smoothly and make your workouts more effective.

John Staughton is a traveling writer, editor, and publisher who earned his English and Integrative Biology degrees from the University of Illinois in Champaign, Urbana (USA). He is the co-founder of a literary journal, Sheriff Nottingham, and calls the most beautiful places in the world his office. On a perpetual journey towards the idea of home, he uses words to educate, inspire, uplift and evolve.

Rate this article

Average rating 4.9 out of 5.0 based on 4 user(s).

Sign-up for our wellness newsletter

Do you want the best of science-backed health & nutrition information in your inbox? If yes, please share your email to subscribe.